Montana Conservation Corps Inc

MONTANA CONSERVATION CORPS (MCC) INSPIRES YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH HANDS-ON CONSERVATION SERVICE TO BE LEADERS, STEWARDS OF THE LAND AND ENGAGED CITIZENS WHO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES.

MCC PROGRAMS BRING TOGETHER HANDS-ON CONSERVATION SERVICE IN THE OUTDOORS WITH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND WORKFORCE TRAINING TO DEVELOP YOUNG PEOPLE AS PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUALS AND ENGAGED CITIZENS. MCC HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP VITAL COMPETENCIES AND DISCOVER THEIR CAPACITY TO LEAD IN THEIR LIVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. EXPENSES SUPPORT THREE DELIVERY MODELS: 1) AMERICORPS CREW-BASED EXPERIENCES; 2) INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT MODELS FOR YOUNG ADULTS; AND 3) YOUTH CORPS OPPORTUNITIES FOR MONTANA TEENS. IN THE AMERICORPS YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS, MEMBERS AGES 17 AND UP COMPLETE A TERM OF SERVICE OF THREE TO NINE MONTHS. THEY MAY SERVE ON A FOUR TO SIX-PERSON CREW OR BE PLACED INDIVIDUALLY IN CONSERVATION INTERN OR CONSERVATION FELLOW POSITIONS. FOR YOUTH AGES 14-18, MCC OFFERS TWO AND FOUR-WEEK SERVICE EXPEDITIONS DURING THE SUMMER, AS WELL AS FULL-SUMMER POSITIONS AS PART OF YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS PARTNERSHIPS WITH FEDERAL AGENCY PARTNERS. MCC CONDUCTS OVER 240 COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION SERVICE PROJECTS EACH YEAR. PROJECTS MEET COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC LANDS NEEDS IN MONTANA AND SURROUNDING STATES IN THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND GREAT PLAINS REGIONS. PROJECTS INVOLVE A VARIETY OF CONSERVATION WORK INCLUDING TRAILS BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE, INVASIVE SPECIES MITIGATION, WILDFIRE REHABILITATION AND FUELS REDUCTION, HISTORIC RESTORATION, BIOLOGICAL MONITORING, HABITAT ENHANCEMENT, FENCING, WATERSHED RESTORATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2023 INCLUDED IMPROVEMENTS TO 2,399 MILES OF RECREATIONAL TRAILS THAT ENHANCED SAFETY AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS, RESTORATION OF 17,043 ACRES INCLUDING 6,064 ACRES TREATED FOR INVASIVE AND NOXIOUS WEEDS, PLANTING 25,634 TREES, AND REPAIRING OR INSTALLING 117 MILES OF FENCING TO REDUCE WILDLIFE MORTALITY AND IMPROVE HABITAT MANAGEMENT. THROUGH MEANINGFUL SERVICE PROJECTS, MEMBERS CULTIVATE SERVICE VALUES AND A VIGOROUS WORK ETHIC, LEARN PRACTICAL JOB SKILLS, DEVELOP AS EFFECTIVE LEADERS AND CREW MEMBERS, PRACTICE RESPONSIBLE LAND STEWARDSHIP, AND MAKE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENT. A YOUTH PARTICIPANT REFLECTED: "I WILL DEFINITELY CHERISH THE OUTDOORS MORE AND TAKE HOME ALL MY NEW INSIGHTS ON LEADERSHIP, NATURE, MYSELF, AND TEAMWORK. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL VOLUNTEER MORE AND FOLLOW LNT [LEAVE NO TRACE]. I'LL ALSO TAKE WITH ME THE MENTAL STAMINA THAT I HAVE GAINED ON THIS HITCH. I ALSO PLAN ON LEADING MORE BY LETTING OTHERS MAKE MISTAKES AND LEARN FROM THEMSELVES, INSTEAD OF JUST GIVING A RESOLUTION OR ANSWER RIGHT AWAY."

THE BIG SKY WATERSHED CORPS (BSWC) IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MONTANA CONSERVATION CORPS, MONTANA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, AND MONTANA WATERSHED COORDINATION COUNCIL. BSWC ACTIVATES COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR WATERSHED HEALTH AND PROTECTION. BSWC AMERICORPS MEMBERS SERVE WITH LOCAL WATERSHED-RELATED GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MONTANA WHERE THEY INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF HOST SITE ORGANIZATIONS TO LEAD COMMUNITY BASED, CITIZEN-LED WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP. HOME-GROWN SOLUTIONS TO LOCAL WATERSHED ISSUES, ON THE GROUND WATERSHED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, VOLUNTEER TRAINING, STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS AND WATER MONITORING INITIATIVES MAKE A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE IN LOCAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS. BSWC AMERICORPS MEMBERS GAIN PRACTICAL, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP WHILE DEVELOPING SKILLS FOR PROJECT LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, AND THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN LEADING CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.